Chubby

Chubby was nearly 15. He was pretty poorly for a while, and spent the last day with his head in my lap on the sofa.

He was born in November 2005, one of ten pups. His mum was Ginny, not even a year old when she gave birth.

So from more or less the time I retired until now they were my pack mates as we roamed the countryside. Ginny passed away last year.

They were real characters. They’d run off together whenever they had the chance. Normally if they smelt or saw deer.

Ginny, who came from the Dog’s trust, became pregnant following an accident in the park when a dog appeared while she was in season. We had promised the rescue centre we’d get her done but we failed.

They had such different personalities, Ginny cunning and contriving and too intelligent to be trained. Chubby doting obedient and both as loyal to each other as they were to us. They became a Gang of Four as they were joined by Milly and then Rita.

Initially Ginny joined a pack with Jez, a fearsome dog, and Barney a more placid character. They both passed away a while ago.

Milly passed away last year. She was a German shepherd we got from Thames valley police as she was unsuitable for their line of work.

Rita arrived from the streets of Barcelona where she was a stray and she is the last of that pack ( although we do have Luna, more on her another time )

Chubby has left a huge hole in our lives. All dogs do when they pass but Chubby, the first dog we raised from a pup, was exceptional. Not in any definable way, he was just himself, a terrific dog, who will be greatly missed.

He’s buried alongside his mum 10 yards from where he was born. They will not be forgotten in a hurry. Such wonderful companions.